Adjustable fulcrum for veterinary dental forceps



E. L. WATSON. ADJUSTABLE FULCRUM FO-R VETERINARY DENTAL FORCEPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, I921.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922 Emma 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADJUSTABLE FULCRUM FOR VETERINARY DENTAL FORCEPS.

Application filed June 4,

T 0 all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. IVA'rsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Fulcrum for Veterinary Dental Forceps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel adjustable fulcrum which is formed from a single block of rubber and which may be readily attached to dental forceps to provide a fulcrum element to aid veterinarians in extracting teeth; and to provide a fulcrum for this purpose having a novel beveled face adapted to rest on the beveled crown of the teeth of a horse, whereby to hold the forceps in a level position during the operation of extracting teeth. It is also an important obj ect of my invention to provide a fulcrum which can be readily adjusted to a position close to or farther away from'the jaws of the dental forceps, so that if certain teeth are missing the device can be adjusted to rest on teeth farther front in the mouth of the horse, while a back molar is being extracted. I attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, with my device shown in full lines in a position in proximity to the jaws of the forceps, and in dotted lines in a position to which it may be ad justed farther from the jaws of the forceps;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 8-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my device removed from the forceps.

Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, the fulcrum 3 is adjustably and removably mounted on and secured to the forceps 1 by suitable, preferably rubber, bands 2 which engage over the extensions 6 and are prevented from becoming disengaged by the ribs or end ridges 7 The fulcrum block f has a beveled surface 5 adapted to rest flat on the normally beveled crown of one or more teeth of the horse or other stock, thus keeping the forceps in a level position so that a good grip may be obtained on the tooth to be pulled. By providing a fulcrum of rubber all danger of injury to other teeth is eliminated, and the back teeth may be extracted without danger of Specification of Letters Patent Patented Jan, 17, 1922,

1921. Serial No. 474,933.

mutilating the mouth of the. animal or the causing of unnecessary pain.

I prefer to provide a slightly archedbase portion line, preferably having suitable corrugations 8 extending longitudinally of por tion 9 whereby the devicewill be more securely heldin its positiononthe polished I surface of the forceps.

I may use simply one of the rubber bands 2, which preferably is positioned as near as practicable to the pivot of the forceps, or, as illustrated in Fig. 1, in proximity to the member 4 on the lateral extension 3. When the fulcrum block is adjusted toa position farther'from the jaws of the forceps, the rubber band applied to the extension 6 nearest the forceps jaws is moved to a position farther from the block 4 and near the ridge 7 whereby the band will still be retained in a position in proximity to the pivot of the for- CBPS arms.

The position of the fulcrum block 4:on the forceps may be reversed whenthey are shifted to operate on the other sideof the mouth of the animal, so that the beveled face 5 of the fulcrum block will, for example, be inclined downwardly when applied to the upper teeth of the animal, the crown of which slant downwardly and outwardly, while the reverse is true of the lower teeth. The adjustability of-the fulcrum block is an important advantage of the device which has not heretofore been utilized in this art.

The device is an accessory which may be successfully applied to any type of veterinary molar forceps.

In operating, the tooth is first started or loosened with the forceps by the veterina-' rian. The fulcrum block may then be applied or shifted by the operator to a reversed position as it rests on the fiat surface of the forceps, so that the high side of the fulcrum block will abut against the elongated portion of the tooth on which it rests and fulcrums. An inward and downward tension on the tooth being extracted is thus obtained which is much desired by the operator, in extracting upper teeth, and a reverse operation effected in extracting the lower teeth. Such operation of the forceps facilitates the extraction of the tooth. which is slightly curved and tends to point inward as the extraction progresses. fulcrum block on the forceps thus provides an important improvement and aids materially in the extraction of the tooth.

The reversible feature of the hat I claim is:

1. An adjustable and reversible fulcrum for veterinary dental forceps, consisting of a block of rubber, the blockhaving a beveled face which functions as the fulcrum element, and means for adjustably and reversibly securing the fulcrum element on the fiat surface of the veterinary forceps.

2. In an adjustable fulcrum for veterinary dental force s, the combination of a fulcrum block of resi ient material, said block having a beveled face functioning as the fulcrum member, the block having one or more extensions, and means removably attaching the de-' vice to the forceps and permitting of adjustment of the fulcrum block the forceps arms. 1

3. As a new article of manufacture'a'rubber fulcrum block for "use with veterinary dental forceps, said block consisting of a longitudinally of fulcrum portion having a face beveled to rest flat on the crown of the animals teeth, and having lateral extensions said extensions having upstanding ribs to provide a securing means about which a suitable attaching band may be applied to fasten the device on dental plied.

EDWARD L. WATSON. 

